Writing device having a retractable writing element

ABSTRACT

A writing device comprising a retractable writing element equipped with a co-axial release spring and housed in a sheath topped with a push rod adapted to act directly on the upper end of the writing element. The sheath is formed by injection molding with an upper ring provided with a click tongue, the sheath and tongue being joined by a single breakable sprue of material the point of injection. The sheath is formed at its upper end with a cylindrical portion having a diameter smaller than that of the sheath but equal to the inner diameter of the ring. The device is provided with a push rod formed integral with diametrically opposed locking members adapted to cooperate with other locking member, also diametrically opposed, which are provided on the inner face of the small diameter portion at the upper end of the sheath, the locking members on one of the elements having two diametrically opposed stubs, formed on elastic tongues, which can be recessed and the locking members on the other element comprising two shaped cuts adapted to receive said stubs.

United States Patent [1 1 Levoin WRITING DEVICE HAVING A RETRACTABLEWRITING ELEMENT [75] Inventor: Jacques Levoin, Paradiso, Switzerland[73] Assignee: Plastica Sudaniericane, Buenos- Aires, Argentina [22]Filed: Oct. 7, 1970 [21] Appl. N0.: 78,867

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 10, 1969 France ..6934874[52] US. Cl ..40l/ll [51] Int. Cl. ..B43k /16 [58 Field of Search;.,.40l/109-l 12, 113, 401/114 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,196,839 7/1965 ",Bertoglio etal.... ...401/112 3,552,868l/197l Levoin ..40l/l FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,099,569 1/1968GreatBritain ..40l/1l2 il l.

1 Apr. 3, 1973 Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney-Irving M.Weiner [57] ABSTRACT A writing device comprising a retractable writingelement equipped with a co-axial release spring and housed in asheathtopped with a push rod adapted to act directly on the upper end of thewriting element. The sheath is formed by injection moldingvwith an upperring provided with a click tongue, the sheath and tongue being joined bya single breakable sprue of material the point of injection. The sheathis formed at its upper end with a cylindrical portion having a diametersmaller than that of the sheath but equal to the inner diameter of thering. The device is provided with a push rod formed integral withdiametrically opposed locking members adapted to cooperate with otherlocking member, also diametrically opposed, which are provided on theinner face of the small diameter portion at the upper end of the sheath,the locking members on one of the elements having two diametricallyopposed stubs, formed on elastic tongues, which can be recessed and thelocking members on the other element comprising two shaped cuts adaptedto receive said stubs.

15 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 3 I975 SHEET 1 0F 3 Fig .2

Fig.1

INVENTOR Q S L EVOI N """WNEY PATENTEDAPR 3 m5 SHEET 3 [1F 3 Y WRITINGDEVICE HAVING A RETRACTABLE WRITING ELEMENT This invention relates towriting devices and more particularly to writing devices such asball-point or fountain pens and propelling pencils, having only oneretractable writing element.

Writing devices of this kind provided with a mechanism for locking thewriting element either in extended operating position or in retractedstorage posiaforesaid drawbacks and to provide a pen or pencil,

with a retractable writing element, which can be completely assembled bymachine for a very low cost. i

In accordance with the foregoing and other objects the present inventioncontemplates the provision of a writing device, such as a ball-point penor a propelling pencil, which includes a retractable writing elementequipped with a-co-axial release spring and which is housed in a sheathtopped with a tripping push rod which acts directly'on the upper part ofthe writing element. The writing device according to this invention hasthe following features: its plastic sheath is injectionmolded togetherwith an upper ring equipped with a click and spring tongue retained onlyby an injection sprue which can be broken up upon removal from the mold;the upper part of the sheath is also cylindrical, but its diameter,smaller than the rest of the sheath, is equal to the inner diameter ofthe ring; the push rod is formed with diametrically opposed lockingmembers which may cooperate with other diametrically opposed lockingmembers provided on the inner face of the small diameter portion at thetop of the sheath; these locking members may comprise, on one of theelements, two diametrically opposed recessing stubs which are held byelastic tongues, while on the other element, two shaped cuts areprovided to receive these stubs.

According to a first method of fabricating the writing device accordingto the invention, the stubs are integral with the push rod and the cutsare formed on the inside of the sheath.

Since the sheath-ring assembly is made in one piece in an injectionmolding process, all that is necessary after removing same from the moldis to push the ring axially in order to break its connection with thesheath and to drive it in until the tongue engages the hole; The pen canthus be assembled automatically by machine.

The shaped cuts have closed profiles the upper edges of which aredescribed by the upper faces of the stubs which come to rest on them. Onthe other hand, the

inner faces of the stubs are slanted which cause them to recess whileresting on the lower edges of the cuts, when the user drives in the pushrod with his thumb. One of the shaped out cuts is made with a simpleslanted and transversal bar, the top part of which defines the operatingposition of the writing element, whereas underneath this top part anotch is provided to facilitate the recessing of the corresponding stubwhen the rod is pushed in. On the other hand, the other out has a Cshape. The upper part of the C shape retains the corresponding stub forthe writing element to remain in the retracted storage position, whereasthe lower part of the C shape receives the same stub when the push rodis in its lower most position, that is to say before letting this rod goback to the storage position. To facilitate the return of this finger ifit is desired to move the writing element from the storage to theoperating position, a notch is provided underneath the upper end i of Cshape. Thus, axial shifts imparted to the push rod Thereafter, thewriting element and its spring are inby either the users thumb or thespring release are accompanied by rotation of this rod because of theguiding effect provided by the stubs which engage in the cuts.

Other features which may be included in accordance with the inventionwill be described hereinafter and referred to in the appended claims.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference tothe accompanying drawings which shows by way of example, embodiments ofthe invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a ball-point pen designed andassembled according to the invention with the writing element shown inthe storage position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the writing element shown inthe operating position.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal view showing the sheath of the pen as itappears immediately after the molding operation, integral with its ring.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view showing the sheath after breakage of theinjection point K and with the ring driven into the sheath.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view showing the writing element withits associated spring inserted in the body of pen.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal view of the assembled pen, complete with pushrod.

FIG. 7 is a view of the push rod.

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7.

9 to FIG. 17 are views showing various faces of the pen, on one side orthe other, and illustrate successive phases in the operation of the pen.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing how one of the shaped out cuts is describedby its retractable stub.

FIG. 19 is a diagram similar to FIG. 18 showing the other shaped out outand its associated stub.

Referring to the drawings FIG. 1 shows the pen with cartridge 13 in thestorage position, and illustrates the manner in which ring 2 seats inplace on sheath 1. Ring 2 is secured to sheath 1 by engagement of thestub 4 formed on the inner face of click tongue 3 with a recess formedin sheath 1. A cartridge 13 with its release spring 14 is disposed incontact with the heel 9 of the push rod 5. The flexible spindles 6 and 7with their stubs 11 and 12 are secured to the push rod and the spindle 8links heel 9 directly to the push rod 5.

Two diametrically opposed recesses, 10 and 15, are formed on the innerface of cylinder 17 which is integral with sheath 1 but which has asmaller external diameter. Shoulder 19 connects cylinder 17 and sheath 1(see FIG. 3).

The stub 12 of spindle 7 is restrained against downward movement by theupper part of recess while the spindle 6 is pressed down towards thecentral axis because its stub 11 is pressed against the inner face ofsheath 1.

It can be seen in FIG. 2 that when the writing element 13 is in theoperating position, the stub 11 engages in recess 10 while the spindle 7is pressed down towards the central axis because its stub 12 is pressedagainst the inner face of sheath 1.

FIG. 3 and 4 show how it is possible to fabricate as a single unitsheath 1 with recesses 15 and 10 along with ring 2 which has a tongue 3and which is connected by a sprue of material at injection point K tosheath 1 or cylinder 17.

Upon removal from the mold, a pressure applied in the direction of arrowF serves to break the sprue at injection point K and cylinder 17 andenters the cavity 18 of ring 2. The click tongue 3 allows the boss 20 ofinjection point K to enter the recess or hole 16 provided in sheath 1and when the ring 2 comes into contact with shoulder 19 it functions inthe manner of an extraction plate (FIG. 4).

FIG. 7 which is a view of the push rod 5 shows heel 9 with its flexiblespindles 7 and 6 equipped with their stubs 11 and 12 and also shows rodor spindle 8 which links heel 9 to the push rod 5.

FIG. 8 which is a cross section of the push rod shows the location ofthe flexible spindles 6 and 7 formed at their outer ends with theirrespective stubs 1 1 and 12 as well as the rod 8 which links heel 9 topush rod 5. Each stub has a transversal upper face 21 or 22 and aslanting lower face 23 or 24 which facilitates its recessing uponelastic bending of tongue 6 or 7 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

FIGS. 10 and 15 show recesses on the inner face of cylinder 17 which canbe cut out throughout the thickness of this cylinder: in any case theyare covered by ring 2 when this ring is in place after the sprue ofmaterial at injection point K has been broken off. (FIG. 4).

Thereafter, writing element 13 is inserted into the sheath 1 along withits spring 14 (FIG. 5). The push rod 5 is then simply driven in in thedirection of arrow 25 (FIG. 6). Stubs l1 and 12 recess automatically dueto their slanting lower faces 23 and 24 (FIG. 7) before elasticallyengaging into cuts 10 and 15.

Cut 10 wherein stub 11, for example, can move is formed of a simpleslanting and straight ramp which comprises an upper edge 26 and a loweredge-27. In front of the highest point of the upper edge 26, the loweredge 27 is cut out along the notch 28 (FIG. 18).

Cut 15 (FIG. 19) has a C profile and is formed in front of its highestpoint 120, with a downwardly directed notch 29.

In operation of the pen, when the writing element is in its retractedstorage position, stub 12 occupies upper position 12a in cut 15. Thecomer 22 of stub 12 rests on the upper edge of cut 15 (FIGS. 1 and 9).Simultaneously stub 11 occupies its retracted position 11 a (FIGS. 1 and18).

Applying pressure on the push rod 5, the user brings the stubs 11 and 12down to positions 11b and 12b (FIGS. 10, 18 and 19) where they arerecessed below their respective cuts 10 and 15. The user frees push rod5 which is driven up by spring 14. Stub 11 is then projected into cut 10in position (FIG. 11) then, coming up again, it engages on its upperedge 21 the upper edge of cut 10 (FIG. 12). Push rod 5 moves up whilerotating, because the stub 11 is moving along the edge 26 up to thehigher position lle. At that moment stub 12 occupies recessed positionHe (FIG. 19) and the writing element then remains in its extended,writing position. (FIGS. 2 and 13).

To bring the writing element back to its retracted, storage position,the user again drives in push rod 5 (FIG. 14, arrow 16). Stub-l2 movesdown and enters into the lower part of cut 15 by elastic release (FIGS.15 and 19, position 12]) whereas stub 11 recesses at the level of thebottom of notch 28 to return to position 1 1f (FIGS. 14 and 18). lftheuser releases push rod 5, the mechanism will move up (FIG. 16, arrow 30)under the pressure of spring 14. The upper edge 22 of finger 12 which isheld on the convex area of cut 15 moves up to position 12g (FIGS. 16 and19) while simultaneously causing the rotation of the push rod 5.Thereafter stub 11 moves to recessed position 11g which allows it tomove up again without meeting cut 10. Stub 12 then engages the upperedge of cut 15 (position 12h, FIG. 19) which it follows up to position12a while causing push rod 5 to rotate in the opposite direction, stub11 meanwhile returning to position 11a. The writing element is thenagain in its retracted, storage position (FIGS. 1, 9 and 17).

It will of course be appreciated that pens made in accordance with thisinvention may be equipped with a clip 28 of a known type (FIG. 3)attached to or formed integrally with the ring 2.

What is claimed is:

1. A writing device comprising a retractable writing element equippedwith a co-axial release spring and housed in a sheath topped with a pushrod adapted to act directly on the upper end of the writing element,wherein said sheath is formed of injected plastic together with an upperring provided with a click tongue, said sheath and said ring beingjoined by a single breakable sprue of material at the injection point;means defining a hole disposed in said sheath adapted to receive aportion of said click tongue to secure said upper ring to said sheath;said sheath formed at its upper end with a cylindrical portion having adiameter smaller than that of the sheath but equal to the inner diameterof said ring; a push rod formed integral with diametrically opposedlocking members adapted to cooperate with other locking members, alsodiametrically opposed, which are provided on the inner face of the smalldiameter portion at the upper end of the sheath, the locking members onone of the elements having two diametrically opposed stubs formed onplastic tongues, which can be recessed and the locking members on theother element comprising two shaped cuts adapted to receive said stubs.

slanted causing them'to recess upon engaging the lower edges of saidcuts when the push rod is driven through the sheath. g

5. A writing device according to claims 1, wherein one of said shapedcuts is made with a single slanted transversal bar the upper end ofwhich defines the operating position ofthe writing element, and belowthis end a notch is provided to facilitate recessing of thecorresponding stub when the push rod is pressed before it moves into itsrecessed position.

6. A writing device according to claims 1 wherein said other cut is of Cshape the upper part of which maintains the corresponding stub in therecessed position of the writing element, whereas its lower end receivedthe same stub in the lowermost position of the push rod, prior toreleasing the push rod for return to its recessed position.

7. A writing device according to claim 6, wherein a notch is formedbelow the upper end of said C shaped cut.

8. A writing device according to claim 2, wherein said ring is providedwith a clip to enable the writing device to be secured in a pocket.

9. A writing device according to claim 4, wherein one of said shapedcuts is made with a single slanted transversal bar the upper end ofwhich defines the operating position of the writing element, and belowthis end a notch is provided to facilitate recessing of thecorresponding stub when the push rod is pressed before it moves intothis recessed position.

10. A writing device according to claim 4, wherein one of said shapedcuts is of C shape, the upper part of which maintains the correspondingstub in the recessed position of the writing element, whereas its lowerend receives the same stub in the lowermost position of the push rodprior to releasing the push rod for return to its recessed position.

11. A writing device according to claim 5, wherein the other of saidshaped cuts is of C shape, the upper part of which maintains thecorresponding stub in the recessed position of the writing element,whereas its lower end receives the same stub in the lowermost positionof the push rod, prior to releasing the push rod for return to itsrecessed position.

12. A writing device according to claim 9, wherein the other of saidshaped cuts is of C shape, the upper part of which maintains thecorresponding stub in the recessed position of the writing element,whereas its lower end receives the same stub in the lowermost positionof the push rod, prior to releasing the push rod for return to itsrecessed position.

13. A writing device according to claim 10, wherein a notch is formedbelow the upper end of said C shaped cut.

14. A writing device according to claim 11, wherein said notch is formedbelow the upper end of said C shaped cut.

15. A writing device according to claim 12, wherein said notch is formedbelow the upper end of said C shaped cut.

1. A writing device comprising a retractable writing element equippedwith a co-axial release spring and housed in a sheath topped with a pushrod adapted to act directly on the upper end of the writing element,wherein said sheath is formed of injected plastic together with an upperring provided with a click tongue, said sheath and said ring beingjoined by a single breakable sprue of material at the injection point;means defining a hole disposed in said sheath adapted to receive aportion of said click tongue to secure said upper ring to said sheath;said sheath formed at its upper end with a cylindrical portion having adiameter smaller than that of the sheath but equal to the inner diameterof said ring; a push rod formed integral with diametrically opposedlocking members adapted to cooperate with other locking members, alsodiametrically opposed, which are provided on the inner face of the smalldiameter portion at the upper end of the sheath, the locking members onone of the elements having two diametrically opposed stubs formed onplastic tongues, which can be recessed and the locking members on theother element comprising two shaped cuts adapted to receive said stubs.2. A writing device according to claim 1, wherein said stubs are formedintegral with said push rod and said cuts are formed on the inside ofsaid sheath.
 3. A writing device according to claim 1, wherein said ringis provided with a clip to enable the writing device to be secured in apocket.
 4. A writing device according to claim 1, wherein each of saidcuts has a closed profile the upper edges of which are described by theupper faces of stubs recessing therein, the lower faces of these stubsbeing slanted causing them to recess upon engaging the lower edges ofsaid cuts when the push rod is driven through the sheath.
 5. A writingdevice according to claims 1, wherein one of said shaped cuts is madewith a single slanted transversal bar the upper end of which defines theoperating position of the writing element, and below this end a notch isprovided to facilitate recessing of the corresponding stub when the pushrod is pressed before it moves into its recessed position.
 6. A writingdevice according to claims 1 wherein said other cut is of C shape theupper part of which maintains the corresponding stub in the recessedposition of the writing element, whereas its lower end received the samestub in the lowermost position of the push rod, prior to releasing thepush rod for return to its recessed position.
 7. A writing deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein a notch is formed below the upper end ofsaid C shaped cut.
 8. A writing device according to claim 2, whereinsaid ring is provided with a clip to enable the writing device to besecured in a pocket.
 9. A writing device according to claim 4, whereinone of said shaped cuts is made with a single slanted transversal barthe upper end of which defines the operating position of the writingelement, and below this end a notch is provided to facilitate recessingof the corresponding stub when the push rod is pressed before it movesinto this recessed position.
 10. A writing device according to claim 4,wherein one of said shaped cuts is of C shape, the upper part of whichmaintains the corresponding stub in the recessed position of the writingelement, whereas its lower end receives the same stub in the lowermostposition of the push rod prior to releasing the push rod for return toits recessed position.
 11. A writing device according to claim 5,wherein the other of said shaped cuts is of C shape, the upper part ofwhich maintains the corresponding stub in the recessed position of thewriting element, whereas its lower end receives the same stub in thelowermost position of the push rod, prior to releasing the push rod forreturn to its recessed position.
 12. A writing device according to claim9, wherein the other of said shaped cuts is of C shape, the upper partof which maintains the corresponding stub in the recessed position ofthe writing element, whereas its lower end receives the same stub in thelowermost position of the push rod, prior to releasing the push rod forreturn to its recessed position.
 13. A writing device according to claim10, wherein a notch is formed below the upper end of said C shaped cut.14. A writing device according to claim 11, wherein said notch is formedbelow the upper end of said C shaped cut.
 15. A writing device accordingto claim 12, wherein said notch is formed below the upper end of said Cshaped cut.